Snowplow



F. M. BECKER SNOWPLOW 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 15, 1950 Oct.. 27, 1953 F. M. BECKER 2,656,623

sNowPLow Filed March 15, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

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F. M. BECKER Oct. 27, 1953 SNOWPLOW 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March l5, 1950 .umm Sv wm f/ a x m ATTD RNEYB Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE SNOWPLOW Frank M. Becker, Sinking Spring, Pa. Application March 15, 1950, Serial No. 149,791

4 Claims. l

This invention relates to a snow-removal machine.

This invention is an improvement over my Snow Plow, Patent No. 1,705,389, dated March 12, 1929.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine which, moved along a street or roadway covered with snow and ice, will effectively remove or clear the snow and ice from the street or roadway.

Another object of the invention is to provide a snow-removal machine which includes a mechanism for scooping and ybreaking up the snow and ice, the machine including conveyors for receiving the snow and ice and moving it rearwardly in the machine, whereby frictional heat and triturators therein will cause the snow and ice to melt or be converted into water, the Water so formed being emptied in the front of the machine to facilitate the removal of the remaining snow and ice from the street.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a snow-removal machine which includes a novel mechanism for gathering, breaking and melting the snow and ice, the machine being simple and inexpensive to operate.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the snowremoval machine constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the snow-removal machine of the present invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the snow-removal machine;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse Vertical sectional view taken through the front end of the snow-removal machine;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken through one of the triturators;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified feed screw;

Figure l1 is an end elevational view of the feed screw of Figure 10.

Referring in detail to Figures 1 through 9 of the drawings, there is shown a snow-removal machine which is adapted to travel along a snowcovered road or street by the latter.

The snow-removal machine or apparatus includes a horizontally disposed base 20 that supports thereon a hollow housing 2|, the housing 21 being secured to the base 20 in any suitable manner. port the Afront end of the machine, there being a pair of larger wheels .23 supporting the rear end of the machine. An axle 24 extends between the pair of rear wheels '23. The axle 24 is caused to rotate by an engine 4, whereby the machine will be propelled along a road.

Projecting from the rear end of the base 2U and secured thereto is a platform 3 which is adapted to support the engine 4 thereon. A shaft 5 connects the engine 4 to a conventional transmission there being a chain 1 for opera-` tively connecting shaft 5 to a second transmission 8. The second transmission 8 serves to act'uate a rear a-Xle differential 9, the differential 9 being connected to the rear axle 24. The rst transmission G is operatively connected to a drive shaft 10| for a purpose to be later described. For steering the snow-removal machine, rods 26 extend longitudinally along the machine, and rods 26 can be moved to thereby swing links 21 so that front wheels 22 can be pivoted or turned to the desired direction.

A cover 28 of arcuate formation is detachably connected to housing 2| by suitable securing elements, such as bolt-and-nut assemblies 29, and cover 28 can be removed when it is desired to gain access to the mechanism within the housing 2|. The front end of housing 2l has projecting therefrom a downwardly inclined shovel 3A0 which serves to scoop up snow and ice as the snow machine is moved along the road or street. The front of housing 2l is also provided with an enlarged frame 3l and supported by the lower end of frame 3l is a horizontally disposed rotary cutter 32. Cutter 32 serves to chop or break up frozen ice and snow as the machine is being operated, Figure 5. Cutter 32 includes a shaft 33 that has a sleeve 34 mounted thereon. The sleeve 34 is provided with a plurality of spiral ns 35 which serve to move the ice and snow toward the center of the machine. The fins 35 are provided with a plurality of spaced projecting teeth 36 which serve to chop up or break the ice as the cutter 32 is rotated. The mechanism for rotating the cutter 32 is described later in this application.

Arranged in spaced parallel relation above the cutter 32 is a pair of horizontally disposed screw members 31 and 38. The screw members 31 and 38, when rotated, serve to urge snow or ice that may be piled up in front of the machine toward the middle of the machine and through a semicircular opening 39 in a plate 40 that extends across the front of the housing '21. The screw member 31 includes a shaft 42 which is rotatably supported by the side portions of the frame 3|,

A pair of small front wheels 22 sup-v and mounted on the shaft 42 is a pair of cylindrical sleeves 43 and 44, Figure 5. A spiralu shaped blade 45 is secured to the sleeve 43, and a similar blade 48 is secured to the other sleeve 44. The other screw member 38 includes a shaft 41 that is rotatably supported by the frame 3|, and mounted on the shaft 41 is a pair of cylindrical sleeves 48 and 49. A spiral-shaped blade 5D is secured to the sleeve 48, while a sirnilar blade 5| is secured to the other lsl"eev'e49. The shape of these blades is such that upon rotation of the screw members 31 and 38 rthe snow or ice will be urged toward the center of the machine and through the openings 39.

Extending longitudinally through the housing 2| is azhorizontally disposed driven shaft 52, the rear end of the driven shaft 52 extending through a!v vertically disposed back wall 53 that serves to close the rear end of the housing 2l. Suitable bearings are provided, or arranged, along the L drivenlshaft 52 so as to insure the properv rotation thereof. Mounted; on the ydriven shaft 572 adjafcent the front end-'thereof is'a feedscrew 54 which adapted topick upv or receive the snow and ice that enters through the opening 39, the

feedzgscrew 54 serving to move thesnow vand ice rearwardly in ,the housing 2|. The feed screw 54 is providedwithiinsnor blades 55 that project Q'iltwendly, therefrom, Figure 4. The feed screw 54 -is keyed or otherwise connected to the driven shaft'52 so that-as the driven shaft 52 rotates, the feed screw 5,4l will rotate therewith, the feed screw. 54- normally turning at a relatively slow rate of speed.

mechanism- `is' providedffor coacting with the ,-f

feed screw 54` to fhelp move the snow and ice rearwardly in the -machine and this mechanism, to be described, alsohelps chop up and break up the snow andA ice. This mechanism includes a sghaf-t 56 which is arranged above the vcover 28, and secured to the shaft 58 is, a pair of ears or blades 51 and 58. The bladesor ears 51 and 58 are .turned` in la 'counterclockwise direction, Figure- 4,;angd for causing.. this turning movement a short shaft 59 has a bevel rgear 60 mounted on its rear end-andv the bevel gear 60 meshes withl a bevel gear 61 that is secured tothe shaft '56. A bevel gear 82 isjarrangedon-the front end of the shaftv 592, and abeveltgear 63 is arranged -in meshing'engagement with the bevel gear '82.` The bevel-g-ear` 63 -is` arrangedfon the -upperend ofY a vertically disposed shaft 64', there being a `similarbevel--gear '65 arranged on the lower'end of vthe shaft84. The bevel gearf65 meshes'with a bevel gear'rthat ismounted on the front endA of the. driven shaft 52, so that rotation of the driven.

shaft 52;causes the Vears 51 and 58 to rotate and help breakup and 'move the snow andV icerearwardlyl in. the housing. The-*blades 51 andv 58 are soarranged that they will not interfere with the rotationfof the feed`screw`54,"and also the blades 5=1""and 58 are surrounded by a closure member The' rotation of the driven shaft`52"also serves t0 drive or rotate the screw members-31 and^-38 and the 4Arotarycutter 32. Foraccompl'ishing this rotation-ofthese members, a horizontally disposedA shaft 68 v`has `a bevel gear I9 on its inner end, the bevel gear-|9 being arranged in meshing engagement with the bevel gear 66 on thefront end/of the driven shaft 52. T-he other end of theshaft 68v serves 'to Yoperate `a conventional cha',in-andesprockety mechanism 59, and the chain-:and-sprocket'mechanism 69 is alsooperatively connected to one vend ofeach ofthe shafts to the housing 2| in any suitable manner.

42 and 41 for rotating the screw members 31 and 38. A chain-and-sprocket mechanism 18 serves to connect one end of the shaft 41, whereby rotation of the driven-shaft 5'2'fca'usesthe screw members 31 and 38 to rotate and' also causes the cutter 32 to rotate.

4Arranged rearwardly of the feed screw 54 and rotatably or loosely mounted on the driven shaft `52 isa drum 1|. The drum 1| has an inclined or tapered front portion 12, and projecting from the rear endI of the drum 1| is a collar 13 which has a gear 'wheel 14 secured thereto for a purpose to be later described. Secured to the tapered portion 12 of the drum 1| are blades 15, and these bla-des 15 tend to urge the snowor ice rearwardly in the housing 2| and these blades also move the snow and ice against the inner surface of `the housing ,2| and cover 28. As the snow and ice are thus moved, it is subjected to frictional heat, whereby the snow and ice will start to be melted or converted into water.

A means is provided for generating additional frictional heat in the snow and ice that has been scooped up, and this means also serves to convey the snow and ice to a pair of triturators, aslater described. This means comprises an annular l.- shaped bracket 18 which is secured to the drum 1|, and vsecured to the exterior surface of the bracket l 6 are curved ribs 11 which serve tomove the snow and ice toward the back wall 53 as the l drum 1| is rotated. A second bracket 19 is arranged in spaced parallel relation withV respect to the bracket 16, and the bracket 19 is secured to a stationary brace i8, thebrace 18 being connected Se cured to the inner surface of the bracket 1S is an arcuate rib 80, while secured to the outer rear portion of the drum 1I is a further arcuate rib or blade 8|. Arranged between the brace 18 and the back wall 53 is a trough' 82 which has a semicircular formation. Thus, it will be seen that as the drum 1`| is rotated, the' blade 1-5 will receive the snow and ice from the feed screw V54 andV then the snow vand ice will -be urged aga-inst the inner surface of the housing, so that the snow and ice will start to melt. Then, the snow and ice which may be partly melted is moved rear'- wardly by the rotating rib 11, whereupon Yadditional frictional lheat is created and then the par.- tially melted snow and ice is carried forwardly by therib 88,*so that the partially melted snow Vand ice passes 'through the space between the brackets 18 and'19. Next, the; snow Vand ice or slush is conveyed forwardly'by the rib` 8| which is secured to the drum 1|, so that the snow and ice passes forwardly again through the space between the bracket 19 and the drum 1|, and then the material enters or is received in the trough 82, Figure 4. Further, the revolving drum 1| is turning at a relativelyl fast rateof speed, so that by action of centrifugal force the snow and ice will be thrown `against the housing or cover, whereby additional heat will be provid'edfor helping to vmelt this material. For helping to free or remove any ice or snow that may :tend to clog up the-rear 'portions of ythe `machine, a pair of scrapers 83 and 84 each have their inner end secured to the rear end of the drum 1| by suitable securing elements, such as screws 85.

lExtending longitudinally through the housing 2| is a pair of spaced parallel, horizontally disposed triturators which are designated generally by the numerals 86 and 81. Each of these triturators has vthe same construction, and each of the triturators lhas its rear end open, as best'fseen in Figure 9, for communication with the trough 82. In other words, by the time the material or snow andY ice reaches the rear open ends of the triturators 86 and 81, the snow and ice is practically all water, and the triturators serve to convey this water forwardly where the water is dispensed immediately in front of the snow-removal machine so as to facilitate the removal of the remaining snow and also to help wash down the streets. However, if any snow or ice is carried into the triturators, the snow and ice will be melted by frictional heat or centrifugal force generated therein. Since each of the triturators 86 and 81 has the same construction, only one will be described in detail. Thus, the triturator 86 includes a body member 93 which coacts with the housing 2| to define a tube for the passage therethrough of the fluid or melted snow and ice. The triturator further includes a shaft 88 which has a cylinder 89 mounted thereon, and

secured to the outer surface of the cylinder 89 is a spiral-shaped blade or fin 90 which urges the slush or water forwardly as the cylinder 89 is rotated. Mounted on the rear end of the shaft 88 is a bevel gear 9|, and a plurality of spaced openings 92 are arranged in the front of the triturator 86 for the egress therethrough of water that is dispensed in front of the snow-removal machine. The other triturator 81 has a shaft 94 which serves the same purpose as the shaft 88, 5

and mounted on the rear end of the shaft 94 is a bevel gear 95.

Projecting upwardly from the rear end of the base and secured thereto is a vertically disposed plate 96. The plate 96 coacts with the back wall 53 and with a pair of vertically disposed, spaced parallel side walls 91 and 98 to define a casing 99, and the casing 99 incloses the mechanism for operatively driving the triturators, driven shafts, and drum, there being a lid |00 normally closing the casing 99.

Projecting rearwardly from the casing 99 1s a drive shaft |0|, and the drive shaft |0| is operatively connected to the transmission 6. Arranged within the casing 99 and mounted on the drive shaft |0| is a worm |02, and also mounted on the inner end of the drive shaft |0| is a gear wheel |03 for a purpose to be later described. The gear wheel |03 meshes with an idler gear |04 that is supported by a straight shaft |05, and the idler gear |04 meshes with the gear wheel 14 that is secured to the drum 1|.` Thus, as the drive shaft |0| rotates, the drum 1| will be rotated therewith.

i Extending between the side walls 91 and 98 and rotatably supported thereby is a first horizontally disposed stud shaft |06 which has a worm gear |01 mounted thereon. The worm |02 on the drive shaft |0| is arranged in meshing engagement with the worm gear |01, so that rotation of the drive shaft |0| causes rotation of the stud shaft |06. Arranged in spaced parallel relation below the first stud shaft |06 is a second stud shaft |08, and a gear wheel |09 1s mounted on the stud shaft |08. A similar gear wheel I0 is mounted on the first stud shaft |06, the gear wheels |09 and ||0 being arranged 1n meshing engagement with each other, whereby rotation of the stud shaft |06 causes rotation of the stud shaft |08. Mounted on the second stud shaft |08 adjacent the outer end thereof 1s a pair `of bevel gears and ||2. The bevel gear meshes with the bevel gear 9| of the triturator 86, while the other bevel gear ||2 meshes with the bevel gear 95 on the triturator 81, so

in the actuation of the triturators 86 and l1.

Arranged in spaced parallel relation above the` stud shaft |06 is a short, horizontally disposed shaft 3, Figure 7. Mounted on the shaft 3 intermediate its ends is a gear wheel ||4 which meshes with a gear wheel |5 that is mounted on the stud shaft |06. Thus, rotation of the stud shaft |06 causes the shaft ||3 to also rotate. Mounted on the inner end of the shaft ||3 is a bevel gear I6 which is arranged in meshing engagement with a bevel gear |1, and the bevel gear |1 is mounted on the rear end of the driven shaft 52. It is to be notedthat the gear wheel 14 is loosely or rotatably mounted on the driven shaft 52, so that the feed screw 54 and drum 1| are rotated independently of each other.

Referring in detail to Figures l0 and 1l of the drawings, there is shown a modified feed screw ||6 which may be used in lieu of feed screw 54.`

rlhe feed screw ||8 includes a hollow sleeve ||9 that is adapted to be arranged in surrounding relation with respect to the front end of the driven shaft 52 and secured thereto by means of suitable securing elements which may be projected through the openings |2|. Projecting from the sleeve I9 is a plurality of spaced rods |20 which are adapted to urge the snow and ice rearwardly in the housing of the machine when the machine is being operated. Y y

Suitable horizontally disposed brace rods |22 extend along the snow-removal machine for helping to maintain the parts in assembled rela-` tion and the number of these rods may be varied as required.

In use, the snow-melting machine of the present invention is caused to move or travel by means of the engine 4. Then, as the snow-melting machine moves along the snow and ice-laden street, the snow and ice will be effec-tively removed and collected from the street. This is accomplished as follows:

The drive shaft |0| is operatively connected to the engine 4 through the transmission 6, and rotation of the drive shaft |0| causes rotation of the driven shaft 52 in a counterclockwise direction by means of the previously-described structure, the engine 4 also serving to propel the machine forwardly. As the driven shaft 52 'rotates, the shaft 68 is also rotated, and this results in rotation of the screw members 31 and 38, whereby any snow or ice that is piled up in: front of the machine will be directed toward the center thereof and through the opening or hole 39. turned by means of the sprocket mechanism 10, and the shovel 30 will collect or scoop up the snow and ice from the ground. The snow and ice then pass through the opening 39 and onto the feed screw 54. Since the feed screw 54 is keyed or otherwise connected to the driven shaft 52, the snow and ice will be conveyed rearwardly in the machine. The blades 51 and 58 are also` rotating, and these blades help to chop up the snow and ice and also tend to urge the snow and ice rearwardly in the housing. The snow and ice is next discharged from the feed screwl 54 onto the drum 1|, whereby the blades 15 'begin to urge the snow and ice against the inner walls of the housing and cover, whereby f'rictional heat is generated sol that the snow and ice are partially converted or melted into Water. This mixture of snow, ice and water then is forced rearwardly by the rib 11, Figure 4, and then the mixture of material is moved forwardly between Simultaneously, the rotary cutter 32 is'` divi-ouai irrational' ais rgrenerateu, iwii'eif by thfeifeismoaua or: formdahighfporcemafgeof 'fr'hje noi-amature their passes, .or sgrreim. .meet-rough ft2 .fana 'thearougnl s2 f has com# :tietwith the :miremos rdf the pastii @animatorsfstndis. 'of 'th rilum" ris 'ist and 581 has? me 'revolving any :remar-rung 125e fana-snow finto-waterby the the screw members 3l and 38 urge thesn'ow :and

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Refer-ences Cited "in me nie Iof tnsvpaten't "UNITED-STATES PKTEN-TS 

